Musical instrument



July 28, 1925. l' 1,547,960

F. SACKMANN I MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Juno 9. 1922 I ll I f jiedfimmizrz,

f j; m i /M Patented July 28, 1925.

PATENT OFFICE.

FRED SACKMANN, OF FALLON, MONTANA.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

Application filed. June 9,

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that FRED SAOKMANN, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Fallon, in the county of Prairie and State ofMontana, has invented new and useful Improvements in MusicalInstruments, of which the following is a specification.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and efficient meansfor mechanically operating or playing an instrument of the stringed typeof which a preferred embodiment is shown in the accompanying drawings,wherein Figure 1 is a plan view, and

Figure 2 is a sectional view parallel with the strings of an instrumentequipped with playing means constructed in accordance with theinvention.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view of the same.

Figure 4 is a detail View of one of the operating units.

Figure 5 is a detail view of an operating unit, showing the picks uponone side of the operating unit.

The device is shown in the drawing as applied to an instrument of thetype as indicated at 10 and includes a keyboard 11 upon which aremounted depressible keys 12 arranged in series or banks, and sound disks13 axially mounted upon a suitable spindle 14 and provided with lateralpicks 15 adapted for contact successively with the strings 16 betweenwhich the disks operate. The picks are preferably of conical taperedform as indicated and may be of relatively soft suitable material havingthe requisite strength, and resistance while affording a relativelysmooth or soft contact with the strings which in the ordinary practiceare wire. As indicated each disk may be provided with oppositelyprojecting picks when two strings are to be sounded in unir son, asindicated in Figure 5.

The disks are adapted for respective actuation by the keys or buttons 12and to that end are provided with peripheral ratchet teeth 16 arrangedin the path of 1922. Serial No. 587,099.

operation of a yielding tongue 17 having a terminal dog for successiveengagement with the ratchet teeth, and the tongues of the several keysmay be carried directly there by as shown at 18 or may be connectedthere with by intermediate rocking levers 19 or the equivalent thereof,according to the relative posit-ions of the keys and disks. Also toprevent backward rotation of the disks retaining pawls 20 may bearranged in engagement therewith.

In operation as will be obvious the pressure of a key or button causes aforward step movement of the related disk to bring one of the picksthereof into engaging relation with the corresponding string which isthereby strained and then released to vibrate the same very much afterthe manner of operation manually or through the direct agency of thefingers of the operator or of a manually operated pick, with theadvantage of increased accuracy in the selection of the strings to besounded and a uniform straining of the strings in the sounding thereof.

In Figure 5, the operating unit disclosed is provided with picks 15 uponone side only of the disk 18. This operating unit is adapted for use onan instrument of the stringed type where only single strings are locatedbetween the disks.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new and useful is Amusical instrument comprising a sounding board, strings disposed overthe board, a keyboard located over the strings and mounted upon thesounding board, disks journaled for rotation under the keyboard andprovided with ratchet teeth, the lower portions of the disks beingdisposed transversely with relation to the strings, picks carried by thedisk and adapted to engage the strings, there being a pick locatedadjacent each of the ratchet teeth, spring-supported keys carried by thekeyboard, and yieldable tongues connected with the keys and adapted toengage the ratchet teeth.

In testimony whereof he afiixes his signature.

FRED SACKMANN.

